Canada may go after groups linked to ISIL as part of mission in Iraq, Syria

The Harper government is leaving the door open to targeting groups affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as part of its expanded mission in the Middle East.

Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson – who was supposed to have been joined by Defence Minister Jason Kenney – told a news conference today that Canada’s fight is against ISIL.

But asked specifically about going after other groups, he stuck to talking points about ISIL being the main target.

“Our focus has been ISIL. We have been very clear from the start on that,” Nicholson said.

“We have had an outstanding record these past six months, a record we can be very, very proud of. Our commitment is to degrade ISIL. We have been very clear on that, and that will be the focus of our operations in the region.”

Nicholson spoke a day after Prime Minister Stephen Harper proposed to expand and extend Canada’s war against ISIL to include air strikes on extremist positions in Syria.

The new government motion detailing that proposed expansion seeks Parliament’s blessing to extend the mission “to a date not beyond March 30, 2016.”

The motion, to be voted on by members of Parliament next week, will be debated beginning on Thursday.

Both NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau say their parties will vote against the motion.

5 comments on “Canada may go after groups linked to ISIL as part of mission in Iraq, Syria”

These bombs we drop cost what $40,000 – $60,000 each? In a troubling economic period we are literally blowing up money in another country. Maybe that is the new economic plan. Have everyone work in bomb factories again. The funny thing is that the bombing helps the Iranians and the Syrians. Weren’t they supposed to be the bad guys according to our Government? They are pretty much the boots on the ground in this. Maybe Iran can build that corridor through Iraq to Syria to help them out. I am sure Israel would not like a direct Iranian corridor to Syria. It certainly is freaking out the Saudi’s who have flooded the market with oil to damage Iran economically, and in turn our own economy. So we are technically helping to bomb our own economy.

And make our citizens less safe. They really don’t get it, and as I wrote in another post, they are apparently intent on creating a military industry in Canada they think will be an economic boon. Real moral clarity. These warped “Christians” have a lot to answer for. And they should never have been able to form government. They’re completely loopy.

When in only 145 of 308 MPs were elected by a majority and in the other 163 the majority had ZERO voice in who was DECLARED elected is it then not clear we have to something not done before so that the progressive majority ensures that every vote counts as with a community self-conducted pre-vote123 in order to vote more intelligently on voting day?

With three or more parties running in each riding, it is uncommon for a majority to elect a candidate. We need to change our system.

But speaking in terms of unprecedented action needed this year, yes, we need to be very savvy about how we vote. We need to be up-to-date in the relative voter preferences in our ridings, or at the very least, in swing ridings across the country. That means we don’t automatically privilege 2011 election results and assume the same conditions apply today. Clearly, they don’t. So, IMHO, savvy voters this year will gather that all-important information in advance from orgs like LeadNow and The Council of Canadians. Who stands the best chance of defeating the Con candidate? Shrink their numbers! End their siege. Get out the vote, especially the younger folk who are least likely to mobilize at election time.

All of yours until ” IMHO” is fact based particularly your very uncommon but very true so that “we don’t automatically privilege 2011 election results and assume the same conditions apply today.”

Very well put!!!

But Leadnow? Be careful what you wish for. Do you know they are pushing PR which they claim is to replace the current system except the form of PR most likely to be accepted IF ANY is MMP in which 100% of the local candidates are elected by the present system. Where is the change?

And the “PR fix” to eliminate the above poison is a party list where someone like Kim Campbell like Netanyahu can never be unelected unless the party ends up with zero votes?

Besides you want to trust secret people making secret decisions as to which candidate to support?
Sounds like talk of change while moving us from the pot into the fire!